Ecuador Leader Has Advantage

Correa Will Seek to Expand Mining, Oil Sectors

By

Sara Schaefer Muñoz and

Mercedes Alvaro

Updated Feb. 18, 2013 11:39 a.m. ET

QUITO—Early results showed that Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa was re-elected with overwhelming support for a third term in Sunday's elections, an outcome that could result in more foreign oil and mining investment and, some worry, further curb media freedom in the small Andean country.

Early official results – comprising about 20% of the votes – showed that the populist Mr. Correa had won 56.8% of the vote. If confirmed by a wider vote tally, Mr. Correa would have garnered even greater support than he did in his 2009...